Hall of Fame
Milt was awarded a scholarship to play at Northwestern due to his outstanding play in his high school years, having been named to the North All-State Football team as a halfback.
Bassett is a native of Woodward and showed great ability during his freshman season in 1964, scoring touchdowns as both an offensive and defensive player.
He shined as a wingback and kick returner his sophomore season before a knee injury ended his career.
He graduated from Northwestern in 1968 with his Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education, and went straight into coaching immediately upon graduation.
The legendary coach got his start at Greeley County High School in Tribune, Kan. where he was the Head Football Coach, Assistant Basketball Coach, and Head Track Coach.
He brought his teams over a two year span to a 12-5-1 record overall.
Milt went on to two more high schools before landing in Purcell, Okla. to take on the head coaching role of the Dragons’ football team. He was extremely successful at Purcell where from 1973-1978, they earned a record of 52-16-1 with five conference titles, a state semifinalist and a Class 2A State Runner-up finish.
Milt also had the pleasure of coaching an NFL player in Clift Thrift who played for the San Diego Chargers and the Chicago Bears, following his playing days at East Central.
He also had a unique opportunity to coach famous country singer, Garth Brooks in Yukon, Okla.
He then went on to be the Head Football Coach at his Alma Mater high school at Woodward where he coached his team to a State semifinal run.
Milt then went on to be a Graduate Assistant at the University of Oklahoma where they won a National Title in 1985. He was in charge of signaling the calls to the players on the field from the defensive coaches in the box.
After his stint at OU, Milt became the principal at Woodward High School and after a five year run of that, he went back to being the AD and Football coach for the Boomers where he recorded his 100th win.
In 1994, the Boomers went 13-1 and in three overtimes, they became the State Champions in Class 5A. He accumulated an overall record of 134-54-2 as a head coach.
In Henrietta, Texas, Milt coached two players that went on to be coaches at Northwestern in Steve Gale, Chandler Mead and he also coached Tim Albin, an eventual National Championship coach from Woodward.
Following a brilliant coaching career, Milt went on to be a 47-year member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association and served on the Board of Directors as Vice President and the Hall of Fame Chairman.
Milt was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1994, the NHSACA Hall of Fame in 2003, the Oil Bowl Hall of Fame in 2010, the Purcell Hall of Fame in 2013.
Milt and his wife Mary Jane reside in Edmond, Okla. They also have two daughters, Candyce Myers and Carma Reagan.
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